Pew Poll Confirms 'Israel Gap' Between Republicans, Democrats

The Republican Jewish Coalition has highlighted a recent poll that shows “large gap” in support for Israel between Republicans and Democrats

By Rachel Hirshfeld

First Publish: 1/4/2013, 3:42 AM

American and Israeli flags hang in Jerusalem

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The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has highlighted a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press that illustrates the “large gap” in support for Israel between Republicans and Democrats.

The poll, taken in mid-December, asked, “In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, which side do you sympathize with more, Israel or the Palestinians?”

The survey confirms the continued existence of a large “Israel gap” between Republicans and Democrats, states the RJC.

According to Pew, “There continue to be stark partisan differences in Middle East sympathies. Conservative Republicans maintain strong support for Israel with fully 75% saying they sympathize with Israel compared with just 2% who sympathize with the Palestinians. By contrast, liberal Democrats are much more divided: 33% sympathize more with Israel, 22% with the Palestinians.”

“This poll confirms the troubling shift among rank-and-file Democrats, for whom support of Israel is now a minority position,” said RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks. “Other polls this past year as well as the boos from the floor when a pro-Israel resolution was brought before the Democratic National Convention last summer, all point to lower support for Israel among Democrats.”

“The traditional bipartisan support for Israel in Congress and the country is threatened by the leftward shift of the Democratic Party, a shift that increasingly makes it hard for some Democratic leaders to support Israel because of liberal pressure,” Brooks added.